Electrodeposition of a novel CdTe array on Ni foils and photoelectrochemical performance

Abstract

A novel perpendicularly aligned CdTe array with cauliflower-like morphology was fabricated on a Ni substrate using a simple electrochemical synthesis method. The samples were characterized by XRD, EDX and FESEM, and the results demonstrate that a high-purity, uniform cauliflower-like CdTe array was obtained. Rod lengths can reach to 3.0 μm, with nanoparticles stacking along the rod growth direction, keeping the diameter at 1.5 μm. A schematic diagram of the possible growth process and evolution from CdTe seed nuclei to the cauliflower-like CdTe array was proposed. The device based on the aligned array-on-Ni configuration demonstrates excellent photoelectrical properties, which is ascribed to the large absorption coefficient of the material and also suggests good electronic structure quality of the cauliflower-like rods. The technique described is applicable to fabricate highly aligned cauliflower-like semiconductor arrays on other conductive substrates.